Dan Plaster
After a well deserved day off the field, the Riders were back at it with a pair of sessions in the sweltering Saskatoon heat. The first practice of the day was held at Saskatoon Minor Football Field in Gordie Howe Park. The field, formerly known as Gordie Howe Bowl is a beautiful facility and will only get better as the renovations and upgrades are completed.
Right now, there is a brand new surface, and it looks beautiful because it is very football specific, with only the dark blue lines marked out for soccer (and is a vast improvement from the rock hard grass field that Saskatoon high school teams have toiled on for years). A new complex is being built in one of the end zones that will house the offices of Saskatoon Minor Football and the Saskatoon Hilltops. The last addition will be very fan specific, and with a little help from the Riders, will be announced very soon, so stay tuned. Once the full make-over is complete, it will be the second best football facility in the province right behind New Mosaic Stadium.
On the field, it was a sluggish start, but as the morning heat set in, so did the intensity of the practice. No pads in the morning, but at times, that didn’t stop the players from winding things up just a bit after having 36 hours off the field.
Highlights from day nine:
– Like all of the media mentioned, Weston Dressler sat out both practices today with second year receiver /returner, Ryan Smith taking his reps with the “ones”.
– Things are starting to progress offensively. Players are starting to pick up the hand signals and line calls more easily, which means better execution. Next step is to step up the pace to truly feel what this offence has in store.
– All five kickers in camp are getting a fair shot. Each take their reps with the field goal and punting units. Who’s leading, who knows, they have all had their good days and bad days.
– Shea Emry has great feet and anticipation. He will have at least five sacks this season.
– Terrell Maze was back on the field and with the “ones” on defence.
– With Tyron Brackenridge still a little banged up, Keenan MacDougall has been taking his reps at safety.
– Great chatter in the afternoon practice and the best quote was, “Better go to work, don’t let the two-a-days get the best of you.”
The defensive back may be the best and deepest unit on the Riders. The “Wolfpack” is back again led by the anchors of Terrell Maze, Tristan Jackson, Macho Harris, Tyron Brackenridge, Marshay Green and Weldon Brown (who is usually placed at linebacker on the depth chart). This group is difficult to really lay out. With the different backfield packages, there are no true halfs, or safeties, and with the new rules regarding coverage (no contact after five yards), expect a lot of zone this season. Saying that, expect the previously mentioned six to be on the roster, along with the newly minted Keenan MacDougall, as well as Matt Webster to see time in the defensive backfield to help out with the import ratio.
Also included in this group of Nationals will be special teams standouts Paul Woldu and the recently signed Michael Carter. Kwame Adjei (fifth round pick in 2015) is also in the mix for a roster spot. Mark LeGree returns after a fantastic rookie campaign for the Green and White in 2014.
Six Internationals round out the training camp roster: a couple of 29-year-old football vets in Jeremy Gray and Marrio Norman, former Toronto Argo and arena league standout, Antareis Bryan, West Virginia Volunteer star, Darwin Cook, Junior Mertile joined the Rider roster in May after spending time in a couple of NFL camps and a fresh faced rookie right out of Grambling, Tyree Hollins.
Lots of depth and some tough decisions to be made by Head Coach, Corey Chamblin and DB’s coach, Tony Missick.
Quotes of the day:
“If those guys are on the sideline, huffing and puffing, they are not ready to play the game and they are not pushing themselves to that limit. Whether it’s two-a-days, it’s football, they’re trained athletes, they are paid athletes, they better be ready to go.”
Head Coach Corey Chamblin on ramping up practice towards game day.
Catch Riders Live 2015 presented by Coors Light after the first practice on day ten of Training Camp 2015 at 10:45 at www.riderville.com/riderslive.
